Kitchener 
September Long Weekend Events & Activities in Kitchener-Waterloo Region and beyond: Friday, August 30 – Monday, September 2, 2019
A list of What’s On in Kitchener-Waterloo region this labour holiday long weekend including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports and exhibitions.
Things to Do in Ontario this September
I. Family & Kids Activities this weekend
Train Rides
Farmer’s Market Train: Market trains operate on market days between Waterloo and Elmira. All tickets are valid as hop on & hop off day passes between all stations. Take the train from any of our stations. The round trip is approximately an hour and a half. Ride as long as you’d like!
Country Train/Wagon Tour: Enjoy our train ride from the Farmers Market platform to Elmira. You’ll be taken through Mennonite farmland and enjoy a wagon ride on backroads and country lanes. Stop by a Mennonite farmer’s maple syrup booth for some of Ontario’s sweetest maple syrup, right off the farm where it was made.
Rail N Ale (19+): Ride the train to St. Jacobs Village. Detrain and take a short walk to Block 3 Brewery for a flight of craft beers (included in ticket price). Catch any train at the St. Jacobs Village Station to resume your ride.
Labour Day Steam Train: Celebrate Labour Day with a historic train ride pulled by our 96-year-old #9 Steam Engine. Non-stop, round trip ride with a run past photo opportunity. Details
Farmer’s Market Train | Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 10:10 AM, 12:10 PM & 2:10 PM
Country Train/Wagon Tour | Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 10:10 AM
Rail N Ale (19+) | Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 12:10 PM
Labour Day Steam Train | Monday, September 2, 2019 | 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM
Farmer’s Market Train, Country Train/Wagon Tour, Rail N Ale (19+): Departs from Farmers Market, Waterloo
Labour Day Steam Train | Departs Village Station, St. Jacobs
Farmer’s Market Train: Adult $19.99; Child $14.99
Country Train/Wagon Tour: Adult $37.99; Child $32.99
Rail N Ale (19+): $29.99
Labour Day Steam Train: All ages $24.99
Last Weekend of the Summer at Doon Heritage Village
This is the last weekend to enjoy Doon Heritage Village before off season hours begin. Try your hand at the gallery activities and games; enjoy a horse drawn wagon on the Sunday and Monday. Details
Saturday – Monday, August 31 – September 2, 2019 | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Doon Heritage Village, 10 Huron Rd, Kitchener
Free with regular admission
A Taste of 1914
Sample recipes from the turn of the century and learn how and what people ate over 100 years ago. Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Doon Heritage Village, 10 Huron Rd, Kitchener
Free with regular admission
Turtles of Laurel Creek
Why did the turtle cross the road? Come to this program to find out! Did you know that 7 out of 8 species of turtles in Ontario are at risk of becoming endangered? Meet two local species of turtle and learn more about them. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Laurel Creek Park, Westmount Rd. N, Waterloo
Meet at the Baseball Shelter
Free with paid park admission
The Awesome Bug Hunt
Join one of GRCA’s Nature Guides and see who can catch the most bugs. We will provide nets and bug containers – everything you need to catch insects and other creepy crawlies. Butterflies? Spiders? Praying Mantis? Who knows but one thing for sure is the fall is the best time of year to see, find and hold big bugs! Feel free to bring along your own bug catching supplies! Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Rockwood Park, 161 Fall Street South, Rockwood
Meet by the Rockwood Nature Centre
Free with paid park admission
“Hot Summer Nights” at Rockwood Park
Don’t miss the return of Hot Summer Nights at Rockwood Conservation Area. Every Saturday evening in August at 7 p.m. come check out the Guelph/Eramosa Fire Department trucks, chat with the crew, learn about fire safety, and cool off under the spray of the fire hose! Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Rockwood Park, 161 Fall Street South, Rockwood
Free with paid park admission; Please note the event will be cancelled if there is an emergency fire call.
Please check the Guelph-Eramosa Fire Department’s Facebook page for updates and cancellation.
Princesses & Pup Party Weekend
What a better way to spend the long weekend then with your favourite characters! the Pup Team and your favourite Princesses will be here at Snyder’s Farm. Enjoy a fun-filled fall farm day for family and friends! Details
Saturday – Monday, August 31 – September 2, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM
Snyder’s FamilyFarm, 936685 Blenheim Rd RR 4, Ayr
$13.99 + tax; Children 2 years and under Free
Go Fly a Kite at Shade’s Mills
From birds in flight to simple experiments demonstrating Bernoulli’s Principle and Newton’s Third Law of Motion, join our staff to build and fly your own kite. This program is suitable for families with school-aged children. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Shade’s Mills Nature Centre, 450 Avenue Road, Cambridge
Meet at Toyota Amphitheatre
Free with paid park admission
Turtles of Elora Gorge
Why did the turtle cross the road? Come to this program to find out why. Did you know that all native species of turtles are at risk of disappearing? Come meet local species of turtle and learn more about how we can help turtles. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Elora Gorge Park, 7400 Wellington County Rd. 21, Elora
Meet at the Pines Pavilion
Free with paid park admission
Summer Tours and Programs
Enjoy guided tours and children’s programming. Children’s drop-in programming include: an outdoor bug hunt, a scavenger hunt. Join a Nature Interpreter for a 20 – 30 minute guided tour to learn more about the butterflies, animals and gardens. Details
Daily, July 1 – September 2, 2019 | 1000 AM – 5:00 PM
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, 2500 Kossuth Rd, Cambridge
FREE with admission.
General Admission Day Pass (age 13-64): $15;
Senior Day Pass (age 65+): $12.50;
Child Day Pass (3 – 12): $7.50; Child (age 2 and under): Free
Harry Potter Escape Room
One last horcrux has been hidden in the Room of Requirement. Use you puzzle-solving powers to find it before the Death Eaters arrive! 13+. Details
Friday, August 30, 2019 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Hespeler, 5 Tannery Street East, Cambridge
Free; Register. Six participants per session
Old Post Office Light Show
Watch visual effects transform the Old Post Office. Details
Thursday – Sunday, August 29 – September 01, 2019 | 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Old Post Office, 12 Water Street South, Cambridge
Free
Bottle Feed Baby Goats
Come out to Growing Hope Farm to bottle feed baby goats and know that 100% of proceeds go to support Mennonite Central Committees food security program! When you come out to feed the goats you will be getting a chance to snuggle up with some cute babies! Details
Wednesday – Sunday, August 30 – September 01, 2019
Growing Hope Farm, 246 Sherring Street, Cambridge
$6.99
Labour Day Picnic
Monday, September 02, 2019 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Waterloo Park, 95 Westmount Rd N, Waterloo, ON
Free; Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Corn-on-the-Cob with a donation to the United Way
Family Movies
Cineplex Cinemas: Watch a family favourite film on 11:00 AM Saturdays for only $2.99.
Free Outdoor Movie Nights on Thursday, August 29, 2019 | Dusk – Raiders of the Lost Ark @ Civic Square, Cambridge City Hall
Other Activities
- Free Swim @ Moses Springer Community Centre on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 | 6:10 PM – 8:00 PM
More To Do
Fun Fall Activities in and around KW Region
Summer Family Fun in Kitchener – Waterloo Region
Haunted Farms for Halloween in Ontario
II. Theatre/Performing Arts
Beauty and the Beast
Disney’s most popular musical is a true international sensation, captivating 35 million people worldwide with its entertaining blend of romance and magic.
With stirring musical numbers like “Be Our Guest,” “Something There,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” this lavish production radiates with sweetness and light. Discover the redemptive power of love with a charming story that will warm your heart and affirm your faith in miracles. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Details
August 15 – 31, 2019
Drayton Festival Theatre, 33 Wellington St. S., Drayton
$29 – $48
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto
Bring the family and cheer for Jack and boo the evil giant as one of the most popular children’s stories of all time becomes larger than life. This fun-filled musical adventure is packed with popular music, lively dancing, outrageous costumes, audience participation and more! Details
August 8 – 31, 2019
Huron Country Playhouse II, RR 1, 70689 B Line, Grand Bend
$29 – $48
Grease
Grease is the word as the hit Broadway phenomenon that inspired one of the most successful movie musicals of all time hits the stage. Featuring unforgettable mega-hit songs like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Beauty School Dropout,” “We Go Together,” and many more, Grease is an “electrifyin’” musical extravaganza that will make you want to stand up and shout, “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop A-wop-bam-boom!” Details
August 8 – 31, 2019
Huron Country Playhouse, RR 1, 70689 B Line, Grand Bend
$29 – $48
III. Sports
Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships
This major national championship will feature provincial champions, from most of the Canadian provinces, competing to decide national titles. The event will be held in two separate competitions. Details
Fours and Pairs | August 20 – 25, 2019 @ Burlington LBC
Singles | August 26 – 30, 2019 @ Heritage Greens LBC, Kitchener
Burlington LBC, 2275 New Street, Burlington & Heritage Greens LBC, 600 Heritage Drive, Kitchener
Kitchener Rangers Fan Fest and Barbecue
The annual Fan Fest and Barbecue takes place as part of the Kitchener Rangers 2019 Preseason Showcase. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the Rangers players, enjoy a BBQ lunch and take part in a number of activities including inflatable games and rides. Following the BBQ, the Rangers host the final game of the Preseason Showcase vs. the Peterborough Petes. Details
Sunday, September 1, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The Aud, 400 East Avenue, Kitchener
Tickets will be available at the door with general seating for the game.
Kitchener Rangers 2019 Preseason Showcase
The 2019 Preseason Showcase will be held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium from August 30 – September 1, 2019. Along with the Rangers, the Showcase will feature the North Bay Battalion, Saginaw Spirit and the Peterborough Petes.
All teams will meet over the course of the weekend, with three games per team for a total of six weekend games. Details
Saginaw Spirit vs. Peterborough Petes on Friday, August 30, 2019 | 2:00 PM
Kitchener Rangers vs North Bay Battalion on Friday, August 30, 2019 | 7:00 PM
Peterborough Petes vs. North Bay Battalion on Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 2:00 PM
Kitchener Rangers vs Saginaw Spirit on Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 7:00 PM
North Bay Battalion vs. Saginaw Spirit on Sunday, September 1, 2019 | 11:00 AM
Kitchener Rangers vs Peterborough Petes on Sunday, September 1, 2019 | 2:00 PM
The Aud, 400 East Avenue, Kitchener
$10 for a weekend pass or $5 per game (cash only)
IV. Exhibitions/Other Events
Final Fridays
Final Fridays showcases art, culture, and cuisine of Uptown Waterloo on the last Friday of each month. Activities and events include exhibit openings, performances, community art, demonstrations, artist talks and readings, as well as dinner, drinks and specials at restaurants. With so many activities, you’’ll never have a reason to leave Uptown! Details
Friday, August 30, 2019 | 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Art Market | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Free
Duels | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Waterloo Public Square, 75 King Street South, Waterloo
KW End-of Summer Psychic Fair & Expo
What does the future hold for you? Find out this Labour Day Weekend. Gifted psychic, tarot and palm readers, mediums, clairvoyants, mystics and healers. All types of awesome vendors, exciting free lectures, over $500.00 in door prizes. It’s all here and much more. Details
August 30 – September 2, 2019 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Bingemans Conference Centre Marshall Hall, 425 Bingemans Centre DR, Kitchener
Regular admission $10; Get $2 discount coupon
Communal Bake Days
Community bake ovens were the information hubs of the past. Prepare your bread at home and bring it to us to bake in our wood-fired bake oven. Meet up with other bakers, share stories, and recipes, or visit the Museum and gardens while your bread bakes. Details
Saturday, August 31, 2019 | 2:00 PM
Schneider Haus National Historic Site, 466 Queen St S, Kitchener
Regular admission; Call to reserve your spot as space is limited. 519-742-7752
Show and Shine: Classic Car Show
Come and visit Show and Shine Classic Car Mondays for a blast from the past with unique classic and special edition cars. Bring family and friends to this free all-ages event for a chance to win great prizes from our sponsors and attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium, Adventure Room and Erbsville Kartway to name a few. Details
Monday, September 2, 2019 | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
The Shops at Highland & Westmount, 563 Highland Road West, Kitchener
Free
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned event Websites/officials.